More than 100 people uprooted after fire on Yakama Indian Reservation
Community seeks support for survivors; most pressing need is for items for babies and children
The Yakama Nation is seeking help
and support to aid the survivors of a
wildfire that destroyed 20 homes, burned
parts of several more and displaced more
than 100 people from the small town of
White Swan, Wash., in the heart of the
reservation in central Washington state.
In an open letter dated Feb. 16, Yakama
Tribal Council Chairman Harry Smiskin
wrote of the need for outside assistance
from the United States and other govern
ments to help care for the displaced and
the immediate cleanup in White Swan.
The Yakama Nation has been in a
state of emergency since the fire began
Feb. 12. It estimates the cost of rebuild
ing is at least $4 million and with other
emerging environmental concerns, that
sum will only increase.
“We are grateful for the miracle that
everyone got out alive, including the
people who ran into the street on bare feet
as their homes went up in flames and the
babies, the Elders and three people with
profound disabilities who all survived
because the community pulled together,’’
Smiskin said. “We cannot overlook that
blessing as we turn to the difficult work
ahead of getting people securely housed
for as long as it takes to clean up and
rebuild a beautiful White Swan.”
A chimney fire is believed to have
started in one home and quickly spread by
wind and 50-mph gusts that carried the fire
from house to house, down a dry, wooded
creek bed and then to more distant homes.
The town of White Swan is devastated
by the damage to 24 homes, including some
multi-family residences, and destruction
of other property, including cars, bicycles
and all personal belongings for many.
Members of this tight-knit Yakama
community now are scattered across the
large reservation, some staying with fam
ily and others housed in motels.
Few of those whose houses burned
could afford homeowner’s insurance and
few have savings to fall back on, making
the recovery of families and housing in
this Tribe of 10,000 even more chal
lenging, said Smiskin. In his letter, he
requested the following kinds of help:
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Skilled volunteers who can assist in
cleanup, including certified asbestos
remediation experts, heavy equip
ment operators and home builders
Donations of money, clothes, food
and other household goods, includ
ing diapers and supplies for babies
and children
Temporary housing for displaced
people and assistance with rebuilding
the destroyed houses, a responsibility
the Yakama Nation has undertaken for
the victims of the fire
The Federal Emergency Management
Agency is expected to bring 10-12 trail
ers to the reservation, which would serve
about half of the displaced households.
It and other governments, including
Washington state, have committed to
building strong and lasting relationships
with Yakama and now in the face of this
disaster, the Yakama Nation calls on these
relations for help.
6th Annual Native Caring
A Conference to Learn, Cornea I ta
Marché-31,2011
Spirit Mountain Casino and Resort
Grand Ronde, Oregon
Come and join other caregivers of Native elders and
relative caregivers of children from Northwest Indian
communities in this two-day event. You have the
opportunity to attend valuable workshops that will
enhance your caregiving skills and provide you with
a break from your daily responsibilities.
Hosted by:
The Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde
Topics Include:
Power of Positive Thinking
Heart Healthy
Nutrition and Fitness
Stress Management
Native Wellness
Financial Fraud & Scams
Feeling better is more than physical
Dementia - Challenges
Living Well - Chronic Disease Self
Management
Social Security - What is it for You?
Health issues and concerns of
children raised by grandparents.
and Other Oregon partnering Tribes, Coquille
Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indian,
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Cow Creek
Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, The
Klamath Tribes, Bums Paiute Tribe, The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and
Siuslaw Indians., the State Unit on Aging and Oregon Area Agencies on Aging.
Coordinated by The Native Wellness Institute
For more information, contact: Bonnie Mercier at Grand Ronde (503) 879-2016 or
Judy Bowen, Oregon State Unit on Aging (503) 373-1842
Courtesy photo by Darla C. Leslie, Yakama Nation Review
Ten-year-old Loralei Eli stands with her siblings surveying the damage to her Aunt
Georgi Ike's house that burned in a wildland fire that swept through White Swan,
Wash., on Feb. 12. The house had belonged to the girl's great-grandparents, the late
Howard and Sally Ike, who left the family home to their children and grandchildren.
“These are lands that the United States
government holds in trust for Indian peo
ple and we hope that the federal govern
ment in the form of the U.S. Congress and
the various agencies will respond as they
have to other disasters,” said Smiskin.
“We believe that more homes have been
destroyed by this fire than on any Indian
reservation in the history of this country.”
Complicating the cleanup, many of
the homes were built in the era when
asbestos was commonly used in insula
tion, drywall and floors.
“The mere potential presence of
asbestos among the ashes and debris now
littering White Swan presents a serious,
time-consuming and expensive environ
mental dilemma,” said Smiskin.
In the immediate term, the Nation is
worried about obtaining safe housing and
collecting money, food, clothing and other
essentials for those who lost their homes
or are displaced until cleanup and repair
can occur. One of the most pressing needs
is for diapers, formula, bottles, baby food,
clothing, bedding and other baby supplies.
The Indian Health Service opened
after the weekend fire to replace medicines
for survivors, but it will take far more to
help the displaced people for the months
or years it takes to rebuild White Swan.
While the Yakama Nation, its people
and its neighbors have responded over
the past few days with open hands and
hearts, the needs in the short term and the
long term are great. The Yakama Nation
looks to the United States to uphold its
trust responsibility and to the generosity
of the American people to support those
affected by this disaster on Yakama lands.
In addition to the local businesses and
centers that are accepting donations, the
Yakama Nation has set up the following
ways for people across the country to
contribute to the community’s recovery:
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For information about
Agent Orange, possible
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health-related problems
and VA benefits:
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Toll-free Helpline
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800-749-8387, Press 3
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www.publichealth.va.gov/
exposures/agentorange/
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The White Swan Fire Relief Fund
at Bank of America, with donations
accepted at branches nationwide.
Donations also can be made at the
Toppenish Armory, 326 S Division
St., Toppenish, WA 98948.
Donations can be mailed to Yakama
Nation CFO Henry Roy, P.O. Box
151, Toppenish, WA 98948.
For more information, please contact
Colleen Reimer, Yakama Nation Tribal
administrative director, at colleen©’
yakama.com; or 509-388-3300 (cell) or
509-865-5121, ext. 6004 (office).
March 2011
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Siletz News
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